Apparatus for compressing air and other fluids.



E. BIRAWER.

APPARATUS FOR GOMPRESSING AIR AND OTHER FLUIDS.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 14,1909.

1,037,586, Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

/v LLL 1 V /j v Winesses; gyi d UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nzens'r BIRAWER, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSIN'G AIR AND OTHER FLUIDS.

Application filed July 14, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST BIRAWER, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and German Empire, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Compressing Air and other Fluids, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an im proved apparatus for compressing air, gases or vapors, in which the fluid is allowed toenter into a vacuum formed by interrupting a liquid column by means of a pump in valveless communication with said column, and is then compressed by the separated parts of the liquid column being again united. Owing to the peculiar operation of the apparatus and of the liquid used in con nection therewith, the important results are obtained, that not only all clearance is entirely avoided and all means for controlling the admittance and exit of the air, or the like, are rendered unnecessary, but also that the compression is effected isothermically.

In the accompanying drawing two constructions of the pump are shown by way of example, Figure 1 showing one construction in section, Fig. 2 showing another construction of the pump, also in vertical section, and Fig. l a section of one of the inlet-openings of the pump-cylinder, drawn on a larger scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawing.

The pump consists of a pressure chamber a, at the bottom end of which is provided the cylinder 6, in which there are a number of small holes a, which preferably have the section shown in Fig. 1*, so that the air, or other fluid to be compressed, can enter without being contracted, while the liquid would be contracted in passing out. Between the cylinder Z2 and the pressure chamber a the cross-section of the cylinder is reduced as shown at d in Figs. 1 and 2. This contraction can either be effected by providing a narrow throat according to Fig. 1, or by providing a disk 6 adapted to be moved by the piston, in which latter case the opening is only periodically contracted. Instead of the throat or nozzle and the above mentioned holes 0, other equivalent means can be employed, for example clack or other valves, slots etc. To the cylinder is con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

Serial No. 507,630.

nected a pipe f, which is provided with a valve or cook, for supplying fresh cooling liquid, and cooling pipes 9 may also be carried through the pressure chamber a.

The operation of the pump is as follows: When the piston is at the top dead point, the liquid column over the piston is continuous with the liquid in the pressure chamber. As soon as said piston is moved downward, the liquid column will, when the section of the throat is sufficiently small,

be interrupted underneath said throat,and a vacuum or rarefied space is formed, into whichthe air, gas, vapor, or thelike, can enter through theholes 0 without being contracted. The interruption of the liquid column is obtained by the piston passing through more space thancan be filled out by the liquid flowing out of the pressure chamber a. In order to entirely equalize the pressure in the cylinder and chamber from which the air or the like enters, the piston or the liquid column thereover can be lowered each time to such an extent that the inlet holes 0, when these are provided in the wall of the cylinder, are perfectly uncovered at the bottom dead point of the piston. By the piston now rising, the air, or other fluid sucked in, will be compressed. If the pressure in the cylinder is higher than in the pressure chamber, the compressed fluid will pass through (Z into the pressure chamber, until the liquid column is again united with the liquid in the pressure chamber. The described operation is then repeated. During the compressing stroke, liquid will escape through the openings 0. In order to replace the same, fresh liquid is caused to enter through the pipe f, the exact quantity being regulated by a cook, or the like.

By the means described the effect is obtained that in both the suction and compression periods, the fluid sucked in and compressed is cooled, and the further advantage is obtained that a clearance space is entirely avoided, so that with a single pump the highest pressures can be obtained, and this takes place nearly isothermically.

In order to allow of the piston being moved ata high speed without the liquid column being separated from the piston, which would give rise to hammering, it is advisable to cause the interruption of the column to take place when the piston has been somewhat accelerated, or better still, when it begins to reduce its speed, in accordance with the law of crank motion. This end can be obtained according to Fig. 2 by causing the plate 6 to reduce the section of the throat d when the piston is near the middle of its stroke.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is l. The combination of a pressure-chamber for liquid and the fluid to be compressed, a pump below the pressure-chamber having a fluid-inlet and communicating at its upper end with the pressure-chamber by a contracted but always open passage.

2. The combination of a pressure-chamber for liquid and the fluid to be compressed, a pump below the pressure-chamber having a fluid-inlet communicating at its upper end with the pressure-chamber by a contracted portion or throat, and means for periodically contracting without closing said throat.

3. The combination of a pressure-chamber for liquid and the fluid to be compressed, a pump below the pressure-chamber having conical inlet-openings for the fluid to be compressed and communicating .at its upper end with a pressure-chamber by a contracted but always open passage.

4. The combination of a pressure-chamber for liquid and the fluid to be compressed, a pump below the pressure-chamber, the cylinder of which is provided with fluid inlet-openings and communicating at its upper end with the pressure-chamber by a contracted but always open passage, and a liquid supply pipe connected with said cylinder. Y

The combination of a pressure-chamber, for liquid and the fluid to be con1- pressed, a pump below the pressure-chamber, the cylinder of which is provided with inlet-openings for the fluid to be compressed and with a contracted upper end or throat communicating with the pressure-chamber, and a valved liquid supply-pipe connected with the contracted upper end or throat of the pump-cylinder.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNST BIRAWER.

Witnesses:

HENRY HAsPEn, WOLDEMAR HAUIT.

Copies of this patentmay be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

